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Categories » Trying to Conceive » Stepping it up a Notch

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Stepping it up a Notch
VirginiaW

Rank: bean
Posts: 3
Joined: 3/4/09
Stepping it up a Notch | 5/27/09 11:48 PM
My husband and I have been "casually" trying to conceive for about 5-6 months now; just sort of guessing when I was ovulating. Probably not the best approach, and I didn't think I would actually feel kind of discouraged because we weren't hardcore trying; but I am. I know it doesn't happen overnight and it can take up to a year to get pregnant, but I never thought it would actually be hard. As women we spend so many years avoiding pregnancy that it makes us believe it is really easy.

I've decided to step it up a notch from "casually" trying to really trying. I've started a little "Conception Journal" that I have the next three months "planned" out. I used an ovulation calculator to tell me when my most fertile days are, especially for a boy (even though I wouldn't mind a girl). I guess I ovulate a little sooner than we had originally thought and have been aiming for. I hope this makes some sort of difference.

Does anyone have some tips?
s.z1028

Rank: seedling
Posts: 37
Joined: 10/8/08
Full Term
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/28/09 10:19 AM as a reply to VirginiaW.
yup - take your temp every morning... get a basal thermometer and record your average temp BEFORE you get out of bed each morning. You'll see a dip and a spike when you ovulate. It worked great for me. I tracked for a few months before we tried. Got knocked up first time out! (My husband thinks it's because he has super sperm, but....)
Moderator
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/28/09 10:23 AM as a reply to s.z1028.
s.z1028:
yup - take your temp every morning... get a basal thermometer and record your average temp BEFORE you get out of bed each morning. You'll see a dip and a spike when you ovulate. It worked great for me. I tracked for a few months before we tried. Got knocked up first time out! (My husband thinks it's because he has super sperm, but....)


The Cradle has more information on this - and a downloadable ovulation chart.

Hope this helps!

 

 

Katie923

Rank: dedicated
Posts: 267
Joined: 1/13/09
Full Term
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/28/09 3:58 PM as a reply to VirginiaW.
I used the ovulation tests for a couple months so I could establish a pattern. Don't get up right after sex, stay laying down for about 20-30mins. Take cough syrup (robitussin). Sounds weird, but it does teh same thing down there that it does when your chest is congested (a nurse told me that). I'll tell you though, don't go too nuts trying. My husband and I started casually trying, then we switched to actually trying. It wasn't so much fun anymore and was really disheartening after a couple of months. Finally, we decided that we weren't going to try anymore and I was pregnant the following month! It really sucks that those of us who really want it have to wait, yet those who don't get pregnant right away... The day after my husband and I decided that we wanted to start trying, our best friends found out they were expecting and had not planned on it. Took us just about a year.
Sltyenpnh

Rank: out of the nursery
Posts: 141
Joined: 11/13/08
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/29/09 2:56 PM as a reply to VirginiaW.
Honestly we tried and tried, it was when we STOPED trying all together and just said it will happen when it happens and sure enough thats the month I got pregnant! Goodluck though and hopefully it happens for you soon!
VirginiaW

Rank: bean
Posts: 3
Joined: 3/4/09
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/29/09 10:29 PM as a reply to Katie923.
Thanks for the information about the basal temps. I never really understood that completely, but I am going to start tracking that now on that Ovulation Chart.

I usually only lay there after sex for about 5-10 minutes. I try to lay with my pelvic raised, but I will lay there longer. I've never heard of that cough syrup thing, but I'll definitely try it. My husband is going to think I am extremely weird.

When I told my husband I was going to start tracking my temperature each morning to determine when I am ovulating, he looked horrified. I guess he thought I meant I was going to stick that thermometer down there! Men...HA!

 

 

kballard

Rank: out of the nursery
Posts: 117
Joined: 4/22/09
Full Term
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/30/09 5:55 AM as a reply to VirginiaW.
OH haha. I also heard that you can tell ovulation by the texture of your secretions. When you are ovulating the texture will be thicker compared to runny. (This is if you are comfortable checking down there).
Katie923

Rank: dedicated
Posts: 267
Joined: 1/13/09
Full Term
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/30/09 5:55 AM as a reply to VirginiaW.
Men are so goofy. It's all kinda weird, but they'll get used to it. I was also told that you should make your hubby get used to taking care of you now, cause once you're pregnant, he'll need to do a lot more. While you're stuck laying down with a pillow under you, make him get you something to drink if you need one. My husband tried at first to run off and play video games during that time, but I made him stay and keep me company, reminding him that this is for him too. And as for the cough syrup... It tastes nasty, but I found that the children's Robitussin isn't too bad. I think it's fruit punch flavored. Does exactly the same thing, just better tasting. There's a ton of other weird things that you can possibly try, but I honestly believe that putting too much pressure on yourself to conceive won't get you pregnant. Relax and enjoy trying. Once you are pregnant, you never know what your sex drive will be like... It can really change a lot.
VirginiaW

Rank: bean
Posts: 3
Joined: 3/4/09
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/30/09 11:53 PM as a reply to Katie923.
My hubby is the same way with the video games! He loves to jump on his computer after. Weird!

I'll pick up some cough syrup and a thermometer tomorrow. My husband thinks we should have a thermometer dedicated to the this. I'm sure there won't be a problem with him taking care of me; he already does so much for me. =)

I'm hoping I'm not one of those women who lose their sex drive during pregnancy...that would really bite! =P

 

 

MonnieB

Rank: sprout
Posts: 77
Joined: 11/8/08
Full Term
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/31/09 11:26 AM as a reply to VirginiaW.
For us, it just happened after about 11 months of the 'trying but not trying' that you had been doing. However, many of my girlfriends swear by the ovulation test strips - meaning they're pregnant within 1-2 months. You can buy a bunch through amazon.com, some even come in packs with a bunch of pregnancy test strips.
Good luck!
Katie923

Rank: dedicated
Posts: 267
Joined: 1/13/09
Full Term
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 5/31/09 6:29 PM as a reply to VirginiaW.
The ovulation tests I used were just from the drug store. They were digital ones by First Response and showed a smily face when you were ovulating. They were quite a bit cheaper than the daily ones. It was the same brand of pregnancy test I used and I got my results very quickly. There was an answer within a minute and a half. Even with those expensive ones, there's no guarantee that you'll be pregnant that quickly, so I couldn't see spending the money.

And as far as sex drive, for me it seems to come and go. It's just akward at this point because of my big belly. I'm just happy that my husband's not one of those guys who is grossed out by the pregnant body.
Cate Cradle
RE: Stepping it up a Notch | 6/3/09 5:20 PM as a reply to VirginiaW.
VirginiaW:
My husband and I have been "casually" trying to conceive for about 5-6 months now; just sort of guessing when I was ovulating. Probably not the best approach, and I didn't think I would actually feel kind of discouraged because we weren't hardcore trying; but I am. I know it doesn't happen overnight and it can take up to a year to get pregnant, but I never thought it would actually be hard. As women we spend so many years avoiding pregnancy that it makes us believe it is really easy.

I've decided to step it up a notch from "casually" trying to really trying. I've started a little "Conception Journal" that I have the next three months "planned" out. I used an ovulation calculator to tell me when my most fertile days are, especially for a boy (even though I wouldn't mind a girl). I guess I ovulate a little sooner than we had originally thought and have been aiming for. I hope this makes some sort of difference.

Does anyone have some tips?


Hello,
I am Cate Cradle, a member of The Cradle team. I would like to suggest an article that may be helpful with this particular topic:

Tracking Your Basal Body Temperature
 
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